Please give a big welcome to Sun Chara...who is telling us about the inspiration for her Italian Millionaire

The Inspiration behind Italian Millionaire, Runaway Principessa

I think the inspiration came from the many fairytales I’d read as a child…got my imagination whirring…and I thought why not a modern day fairytale? That’s the fairy dust part of it. But the ‘reality’ part of it came from having heard women speak on how they put their life on hold so their husbands finish their studies, and afterward, it would be the wives’ turn to do… but too often, the wife’s time to study or follow her dreams never materializes, and instead, she kinda loses her dream in place of his. I know that sometimes it happens the other way as well, and the husband puts his life on hold to take care of the wife, the family… but for this story, I focused on Peter’s grueling and demanding medical career to act as the catalyst that tore them apart. But ironically, it was his profession that reunited them. So, the fairytale & the reality mergedd in Italian Millionaire, Runaway Principessa for a HEA!

Infamous Italian neurosurgeon, PeterMedeci, has a score to settle with hisestranged wife: her reckless bid forindependence has nearly destroyed hismedical career.Ellie, desperate to reassert herself asmore than his bedroom playmate, fleesthe ‘fairytale’ for a gig in a Hollywood clubuntil Peter comes looking for her. For herfreedom, Ellie must spend the next threeweeks being the ‘good doctor’s wife’ inpublic…and his mistress in private!

Please welcome, the talented Elizabeth Ellen Carter to my chair today, on the release day of Dark Heart. I predict this is the book that is going to set Elizabeth on the path to success. A great story, and with a cover like that... isn't it glorious...it has gone onto the list of one of my favourite covers ever! Welcome Elizabeth!

Hello, I'm an Australian author who writes historical romantic suspense.

I've always been a romantic at heart -- and a huge classic movie buff. When I was young I'd prefer to stay home on a Friday night to watch Bill Collins present a classic from the Golden Years of Hollywood to going out.

Those films introduced me to classic literature - Pride and Prejudice with Greer Garson, Ivanhoe with Elizabeth Taylor, the Woman in White with Eleanor Parker, Gone with the Wind with Vivien Leigh, and many, many more.

These tales had strong heroines, dashing heroes and lashings of adventure. I would lose myself for hours in these stories and attempt to write some of my own.

Although I did well in English and history, I wasn't exactly the most diligent student - I was too much of a daydreamer.

But I was practical enough to realise that the only job that was going to pay me for writing was being a journalist.

As it so happened, I also had a teenage crush on our local newspaper's music, TV and film reviewer. But that's a love story for another time, suffice to say that my crush and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary last month.

All of this television and film watching influenced the way I write. I see movies played out in front of my eyes, including camera angles, pans, cutaways, crossfades... it's all terrible cinematic in my head.

And it’s the reason I enjoy writing historical romantic suspense – the action provides added tension – sure the hero and heroine like each other and would make a great couple, but will they live long enough for it to happen? Of course, they do, but it’s so much fun to get from A-to-B viaTimbuktoo.

Happy Release day, Louise!Hi Annie, thanks so much for having me today.I’m delighted to finally be releasing Everyday Lies, my first published book for adults. I’ve been writing fiction for a number of years and in the past two years have become well known for my children’s middle-grade fiction. I never set out to write for children, but raising an 8-year-old reluctant reader will do that to a mum/writer! It’s wonderful for me to see him, and other reluctant readers, enjoying my books and realising that the world of fiction is huge and so exciting to explore.Recently my adult stories have been pushing more and more into the forefront of my mind; characters demanding I write their stories and get them into the hands of readers. These characters can become quite annoying at times – one minute I’m off in a magical fantasy world for children and the next a crazy woman throws open the adult fiction door in my mind and demands I tell the story of how her life was stolen!Her story is my current work in progress and whilst challenging, is also a lot of fun.My second book for adults, Fortunate Friends, will be released in November.Everyday Lies – BlurbFor Emma and Lucie, the art of lying appears all too easy . . .Emma Wilson has it all. Beauty, wealth, a loving and successful husband. But appearances can be deceptive. Bored and restless, her need for more fuels a dangerous craving; one she intends to keep hidden. Against her husband’s wishes and trapped in a deep web of lies, Emma returns to the family and hometown she left seventeen years earlier. Here, her lies magnify, threatening to destroy her marriage and all she holds dear.Widowed and struggling financially and emotionally, Lucie Andrews is pushed to her limits. Delayed grief combined with an obstinate five-year-old drive her to rash decisions and reckless behavior, the consequences of which she is determined to keep secret. For Lucie, the most damaging lies are not the ones she tells others, but those she tells herself.Thrown together by circumstance, will friendship be strong enough for Emma and Lucie to survive the fallout from their lies, or will the fragile threads of their lives continue to unravel?Buy Link:https://www.books2read.com/u/b5On1w

Interestingly, I never considered I'd be a writer. As a child I loved to read (I devoured romance novels from the moment I discovered them), but it NEVER occurred to me that I could write one myself.My first book came to me in a dream (so cliché, right?). But it was a beautiful dream. There were moving scenes of a boy who never came of age like every one of his kind has. It was a story about the girl who has wounds of her own (and totally underestimates her potential) and the power of their connection. A connection powerful enough to spark Noah's change, and to challenge Eden's beliefs. And it was an idea that wouldn't go away.Many dedicated hours later punctuated by much cursing and face-palming because it was far more difficult than I realised, Prophecy Awakened was born, and it was a pretty big high when it won the Romance Writers of Australia 2015 First Kiss competition and finalised in the Heart of Denver 2015 Molly competition. The biggest high was an offer of publication from Clean Reads…although the positive reviews are up there too ; ) Now the second book in the Prime Prophecy Series, Prophecy Accepted, is set to be released later this year.

About the Author:

A school psychologist by day, Tamar channels her passion for books into creating young adult stories about discovering life and love beyond our comfort zones. She is the award-winning author of the Prime Prophecy Series. Her debut novel, Prophecy Awakened, is an epic story of a love that defies boundaries.When not reading, writing or working with teens, Tamar can be found with her ever-patient husband and two beautiful sons enjoying country life on their small acreage in the Australian bush. Tamar finds it deeply rewarding to share her stories and she loves to hear from her readers and fellow lovers of all things book related. You can find her at:Website |Twitter |Facebook |Instagram |Goodreads

About the Book:

Eden - shy, wounded...all she wants is to finish her senior year and escape to college.Noah - the guy who’s spent two years drifting aimlessly, not knowing why he failed to come of age as every one of his ancestors has. When the two meet the connection is instantaneous and undeniable. A connection that has Eden running and Noah burning to know more.A connection destined to be the catalyst for a prophecy that neither knew existed.A prophecy others are willing to kill for.As families rupture and struggle to realign, as their hearts connect and ignite, Eden learns to trust. But with their love and life on the line, Eden must find the power to believe.

Please welcome Monique McDonell to my chair! ​Her new release Any Way You Build it sounds fabulous!

HI there...I am an Australian author who writes contemporary women's fiction including chick lit and romance.I have written all my life especially as a child when I loved to write short stories and poetry. At University I studied Creative Writing as part of my Communication degree. Afterwards when I was busy working in public relations I didn't write for pleasure for quite a few years although I wrote many media releases, brochures and newsletters. (And I still do in my day-job!)

When I began to write again I noticed a trend - writing dark unhappy stories made me unhappy. So I made a decision to write a novel with a happy ending and I have been writing happy stories ever since.I am the author of six stand alone novels and novellas including Mr. Right and Other Mongrels and Hearts Afire and the Upper Crust Series. Many of my novels focus on an Australian characters meeting and visiting US characters.I live on Sydney's Northern Beaches with my husband and daughter where I enjoy drinking copious amounts of coffee and long walks on the beach.To learn more about my books, my writing, my caffeine obsession and my upcoming books please visit www.moniquemcdonell.com.au.

Any Way You Build It​When single-mother Sarah pulls up in front of the house her aunt left her she has three goals; help her kids be happy and healthy, find a job and stay away from men. The last year has been a hellish roller-coaster and now she needs to create a stable life where everyone, including her, has their two-feet firmly planted on the ground. What she didn’t count on was a sexy neighbour who made keeping her focus and her balance way too hard.Todd has two rules, never date locals and even more importantly never date women with kids. Growing up with his own mother and a revolving door of ineffectual step-fathers Todd has vowed never to put anyone in that position. He’s perfectly happy living his life with his Peter-pan syndrome undisturbed – until Sarah and her two adorable children move in across the street and turn everything upside down.Todd isn’t the kind of guy who can stand back when someone needs help and Sarah clearly needs a lot. When Sarah gets injured Todd has no choice to step in and be a good neighbour who lends a hand, because he’s definitely not helping her because he likes her, after all that would be crazy.Opportunity, proximity and attraction mean two neighbors determined to remain single have quite a struggle on their hands.If you like tree houses, indoor camp outs and shameless flirting you’ll love Any Way You Build It.Any Way You Plan It is Book 6 in The Upper Crust SeriesBook 1 – Any Way You Slice ItBook 2 – Any Way You Dream ItBook 3 – Any Way You Fight It.Book 4 – Any Way You Plan ItBook 5 – Any Way You Want It

In 2014 my first novel hit the ebook shelves. “Bet On It” features a winemaker named Seth Muller who, with his two brothers, runs a winery in the stunning region of McLaren Vale in South Australia.This first novel found a following of readers who enjoy stories based in rural Australian locations. So with Seth firmly planted in the hearts of readers, I turned to his older brother Brian. Less happy go lucky than Seth, Brian hasn’t had an easy life. His wife left him shortly after the boys lost their mother to cancer. But in “Chasing the Flames”, Brian finds happiness in the arms of local café owner Trisha Carne. Their path to true love is far from smooth with a pesky journalist, Brian’s ex-wife and a catastrophic bushfire threatening to derail their new-found relationship.The final brother, Andrew, was a challenge. A notorious playboy, I’d written myself into a corner with Drew in the first two books and had to come up with something special to turn the bad boy good. In “Handpicked”, Andrew is reunited with childhood friend Taryn. They were each others first kiss at about eleven years of age, but that doesn’t mean they just fall into each other’s arms with ease. Taryn seems eager enough and Andrew is super keen, until Taryn’s little secret is revealed and knocks Andrew for six.I was thrilled when my followers nagged constantly for me to hurry up and release the final Muller’s Field story. The conclusion to the Muller’s stories, gave me the chance to throw in a few curve balls for fans who have come to know the Muller’s as I do – as family.I’ll miss the Muller boys, but luckily I live less than an hour from McLaren Vale, and can visit the location of their stories to soothe my woes with a nice bottle of Shiraz.

Hi Annie. Thanks for inviting me to sit in your chair and discuss my novel.Welcome, Renée. The title of your book, To Charm a Bluestocking, speaks strongly to Regency Romance, but it isn’t set there. Why that title?When I told my husband the title, he said “A what? No-one will know what a bluestocking is.” I said “Only every historical romance reader. Ever.”

Although we in romance associate bluestockings with unusual, clever women, who usually aren’t perfectly beautiful; the term has more interesting origins. It became popular in England in 1750 when Elizabeth Montagu started a society for clever women to discuss literature and other elegant notions. As with anything that benefits women, it quickly became seen as dangerous. Society (and by that, I mean wealthy male peers) painted them as frumpy harridans who no graces. Romance has reclaimed it to denote clever women.To Charm a Bluestocking is the first in a series of three about three women who graduate from medical school in Amsterdam. Josephine, the main character in To Charm a Bluestocking, is loosely based on my great-grandmother who achieved this difficult task herself. In doing the research about my great-grandmother, I discovered that there had been only 20 female doctors graduate in Holland between 1875 and 1910. Of which, my relative was one. I started thinking about what problems she would have faced, and which of those problems would resonate with readers today. This book is set in 1887; and includes many of the fun features of the Victorian era, such as train travel.From there, To Charm a Bluestocking was built. Her two friends, Marie and Claire, make strong appearances in this book. Their stories are coming soon. You can keep in touch with me at my facebook page, or on my website.

​She wants to be one of the world’s first female doctors; romance is not in her plans.

1887: Too tall, too shy and too bookish for England, Lady Josephine moves to Holland to become one of the world’s first female doctors. With only one semester left, she has all but completed her studies when a power-hungry professor, intent on marrying her for her political connections, threatens to prevent her graduation. Together with the other Bluestockings, female comrades-in-study, she comes up with a daring, if somewhat unorthodox plan: acquire a fake fiancé to provide the protection and serenity she needs to pass her final exams.

But when her father sends her Lord Nicholas St. George, he is too much of everything: too handsome, too charming, too tall and too broad and too distracting for Josephine’s peace of mind. She needed someone to keep her professor at bay, not keep her from her work with temptations of long walks, laughing, and languorous kisses.

Just as it seems that Josephine might be able to have it all: a career as a pioneering female doctor and a true love match, everything falls apart and Josephine will find herself in danger of becoming a casualty in the battle between ambition and love.

Sometimes you meet people through your writing that change the way you look at life. Incy Black, who I had the pleasure of meeting in London in 2014, and again last year, is one of those people! I offered her a blog post to promote her new book, but no... she doesn't believe in blatant buy my book promo posts. Her post is so beautiful, I hope you will see her wonderful voice, and the sort of writer she is, and go and and click to buy!Incy is the one in the pink dress in the photo! This is how she describes herself:

It took a swan dive from a roof to convince Incy (aged 5) she wasn’t an avenging fairy and that no, she most certainly couldn’t fly. Bruised but undefeated she retreated deeper into her make-believe world populated with the brave and the poisonous. When not fighting injustice and righting wrongs on ‘Planet Incy’, she works as a Marketing Director. (Unfortunately, her law degree languishes unused, the distinction between good and evil proving too worrisome in real life.)Her five children are well versed in what scares her (most things) and delight in pushing her neurotic buttons—at their peril.

Incy taught me not to take myself so seriously, and to love being an author, and to focus on the love of what we do, and not let the little publishing hiccups we meet on the way, take us from our journey. Her post below is one I will cherish. *********​Australians are a little crazy—but we love them.

Annie Seaton is laid back. She reminds me of an elegant glider noiselessly catching life’s updrafts, no fuss, no bother. If she does have feathers to ruffle, I’ve never found them. So with that in mind, rather than discuss my new release Hard to Protect or my writing process, I prefer to share why my in-person encounter with Annie was a blast—and will forever remain indelibly imprinted on my psyche.

Picture four Australian women—statuesque, gorgeous, proud—travelling the globe. I’m not saying they wrecked havoc, but they came pretty damn close. And that was just in London. The refined folk of Bloomsbury might recover—one day, but they will never forget.

Annie, Savannah, Diane and Kristen ‘pulled’ in a rooftop beer garden, brazenly swapping names and business cards with some young builders. Such was their enthusiasm for the second pub, I’m fairly certain they offered to partnership up with the owner. They wandered off—and got lost—in Trafalgar Square. I won’t mention they did the same on the Underground. None of this was bad, it was curiously endearing to a Brit.

Seemed like every ten minutes, up would go their arms, back would go their heads, out would come their war cry, “Ozzie, Ozzie, Ozzie, Oi, Oi, Oi,” loud enough to fell all buildings within a three mile radius! It was shameless. It was hilarious. It was terrifying, mortifying, too. And as an experience it ranks right up there with the top ten in my life. It will also, along with the personalities involved, one day find its way into one of my books.

Go Aussie women, go—never change!

BLURB:

Some Black Op missions are too dark—even for him.Volcanic hot and ambitious Special Agent Will Berwick doesn’t give a damn what his orders are, he’s not taking the enemy—the lovely, but arctic Dr. Angel Treherne—to bed. Nor will she die on his watch, most certainly not by his hand. Oh, he’ll root out her secrets. But his own way—teaching her a much-deserved lesson while he’s at it: that no one messes with his career plan just because they’re a little peeved with him.Caught up in a tangled web of deceit and betrayal, psychotherapist Angel trusts no one—certainly not alpha-cocky, cunning Will Berwick. First he’s hostile, then he’s charming, now he wants to protect her? Why? What’s he hiding? With her life—and heart—on the line, she needs to know.With the risks high and personal, can Will and Angel agree the dangerous choices they must make?

​A big welcome to Heather Garside. I had the pleasure of reading Colonial Daughter a few months ago and it was one of the most enjoyable reads of 2016 for me.The cover is fabulous and the buy links are at the bottom of the page.

From Heather...My Writing JourneyI have always dabbled in writing, since composing my first poem at the age of seven. Growing up on a 47,000 acre cattle station with only the company of my two brothers and sister, encouraged us to rely on our own resources and to develop lively imaginations. I completed my primary schooling through correspondence, with my mother’s help. That, and being an avid reader, formed a strong basis for writing.I have written four complete novels over the years and have another in progress, as well as participating in a number of other collaborative writing and publishing projects. I’m by no means prolific and am too easily distracted to be a full-time writer, but my involvement in the writing world has enriched my life in many ways.Colonial Daughter, originally published as The Cornstalk, was my second novel and was written very much from the heart. The plot was inspired by my parents’ stories of their pioneering ancestors, and the setting came alive for me after reading a book published to commemorate the centenary of a tiny Central Queensland town called Banana.Banana was a busy teamsters’ hub in the late 19th century and the wealth of detail in this little book fascinated and inspired me. Now, having honed my skills since I originally penned Colonial Daughter, I hope this new edited version with a fresh cover and new title will do the story justice.

Anna Jacobs is the fourth most borrowed author of adult fiction in the UK library system. She was thrilled to pieces to hear that news recently, and I'm thrilled to have her in my chair today!

Please welcome Anna to the chair!Anna says:

I’ve been thinking about what a ‘brand’ is lately. The word is tossed around in writing circles as if it’s the key to heaven, ie getting published and staying published. (The latter is as hard as the former, by the way.)

To my mind the main component of authors’ brands is their voice ie how they tell their stories and the sort of stories they choose to tell. That’s what readers go for.

It’s exactly like training for a sport: you become good by doing it and working hard at whatever training is needed. For writers, the need is to write and (except in extremely rare cases) write a lot! One book isn’t usually enough to develop good story-telling skills. And notice that I call it story telling. That to me is the crucial element in a novel.

Twenty years ago industry wisdom said you need to write half a million to a million words to learn your craft and settle into your own style. I don’t see that mentioned these days but I think it’s still true. Instead, people talk about PR/brand and being on social media, as if they give you some golden key. They may help as you go along but IMHO only if you have developed your skills and style first.

So . . . good luck with your writing – how close are you to having written your first half million words?Anna Jacobs